Let’s get muddy! Mud volleyball tournament one of many highlights at National Tom Sawyer Days

By JIM DEWEY

Hannibal’s annual celebration of America’s independence is underway.

The 66th annual National Tom Sawyer Days kicked off June 19 with the Hannibal Beautiful Baby contest that included Pee-Wee, Little Tot and Miss Hannibal pageants. The event is new to National Tom Sawyer Days. 

The next event in the celebration will be a concert featuring Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry on Saturday, June 26 at Tanyard Gardens, home to many of the NTSD events. Opening for Montgomery will be the Feudin’ Hillbillies. Concert and ticket information is available at www.hannibaljaycees.org.

National Tom Sawyer Days kicks into gear on Wednesday, June 30 when the annual Y Men’s Mud Volleyball competition gets underway at the Y Men’s Pavilion on Hill Street. The tournament will end Sunday, July 4. 

The carnival will open at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 1 and continue through Sunday night.

National Tom Sawyer Days offers competitions such as the National Fence Painting Championships and the Hannibal Cannibal run through downtown Hannibal. The annual Fourth of July parade will actually begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 3. After the parade, the Mark Twain Boyhood Home will announce the official Tom and Becky to serve as ambassadors for Hannibal and the local tourism industry for the next year. Tanyard Gardens will host live music on Friday and Saturday nights, and the event will close with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. 

The Jaycees are the primary sponsors of National Tom Sawyer Days, but a number of local organizations host events during the festival. Jaycees spokesperson Trisha O’Cheltree says everything is on track for the 66th annual event.